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19 Nov 2003 : Column 1018W—continued
Alcohol (Public Places)
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what circumstances he would advise a local authority to introduce a city-wide drinking ban using the model Home Office bye-law rather than a designated public places order; [136603]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the circumstances under which a designated public places order for a city-wide drinking ban may be used to address aggressive begging; [136599]
(3) what the average length of time taken to implement a designated public places order has been from the day on which the local authority made a decision. [137239]
Ms Blears: Section 12–16 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (CJPA) came into force on 1 September 2001. The provisions in the Act allow local authorities to designate areas to restrict public drinking where there is evidence that nuisance is alcohol related. In such designated areas the police may use their discretionary powers to confiscate all alcohol where they reasonably believe that continued drinking in that place will lead to further disorder or nuisance. The CJPA provides the police with a more consistent set of powers including the power of arrest, which was not available in the previous bye-laws. Any relevant local authority drinking bye-law will lapse after five years commencing on 1 September 2001.
The powers contained in the CJPA were never intended to be used to introduce a blanket restriction on public drinking. The powers were intended to be used to stop the immediate problems caused by anti-social drinking in designated areas and to allow the police to confiscate alcohol in those areas. Section 13 of the CJPA could permit the designation of an entire local authority area should that area be experiencing problems with nuisance that is alcohol related.
The time it takes for a local authority to introduce an order will vary from the size of the area to be designated and also with regard to the time it takes to carry out the procedures required under the Local Authorities (Alcohol Consumption in Designated Places) Regulations 2001.
The objective of the CJPA powers is to tackle anti-social street drinking, rather than begging. Begging is an offence under Section 3 of the Vagrancy Act 1824. It will be made a recordable offence from 1 December 2003.
Anonymity
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what informed and
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strengthened guidance has been given to the police and media on anonymity for those accused of historical child abuse; and where and to whom it is available; [138279]
- (2) which Ministers are discussing with media representatives how intrusive and unhelpful reporting in cases with suspects of historical child abuse can be avoided. [138282]
Ms Blears: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Child Abuse
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will remove the right to buy from a council tenant any of whose family resident in the family home are subject of an antisocial behaviour order for neighbour nuisance. [138798]
Ms Blears: Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill we have made a number of improvements to anti-social behaviour orders. However, we are also aware that anti-social tenants can sometimes evade eviction by buying their homes under the right to buy. We are actively considering what steps we can take to prevent this and thus to protect communities.
Asylum Seekers
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his provision of taxis for asylum seekers for visiting friends and family; out of which budget they are paid for; what criteria are used to assess whether or not an asylum seeker might be able to make use of such arrangements; and whether provision of taxis is a temporary measure. [134130]
Beverley Hughes: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers in each of the last six years have received (a) a criminal record and (b) been sentenced to prison. [135872]
Beverley Hughes: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many female asylum seekers that have been settled in the United Kingdom requested that their husband not be granted asylum so as to protect them from domestic violence in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003; [138172]
- (2) how many female asylum seekers arrived in the UK seeking protection from an abusive husband or partner in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [138173]
Beverley Hughes: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose claims have been certified as clearly unfounded under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 have lodged appeals from abroad; and how many of those appeals have been successful. [139232]
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Beverley Hughes: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mr. Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate the Department has made of the number of asylum seekers given on committing fraud by unqualified legal advisers in the last year for which figures are available. [138691]
Beverley Hughes: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Bus Lanes (Policing Costs)
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much policing bus lanes in England cost in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [137684]
Ms Blears: The information is not held centrally.
Citizenship Applications
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long on average it has taken to deal with British Overseas Citizens' applications in the last year for which figures are available. [133482]
Beverley Hughes: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Civil Service Bodies
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) criminal justice and (b) other civil service bodies accountable to his Department which are not required to produce an annual report. [131163]
Fiona Mactaggart: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Community Justice
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to introduce community courts; and how these courts will work in practice. [137532]
Paul Goggins: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects there to be a community justice centre in every area. [138364]
Ms Blears: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Community Policy Directorate
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the purpose is of the Community Policy Directorate of his Department; what its estimated costs were for each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [99805]
Fiona Mactaggart: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
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Corporate Killing
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the introduction of health and safety legislation to deal with corporate killing; and if he will make a statement. [136864]
Ms Blears: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Correspondence
David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter of 11 September from the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding a constituent, reference: PO 13626/3 + K454708. [133067]
Fiona Mactaggart: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton to discuss the letter to him dated 18 September 2003, with regard to Mr. M. J. Sattler. [138459]
Mr. Blunkett: A letter was sent to my right hon. Friend on 22 September explaining that his letter had been transferred to the Office for National Statistics.
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the hon. Member for Bolton, South East will receive a response to his letters of (a) 25 April, (b) 18 June, (c) 29 July, (d) 3 September and (e) 8 October regarding Mr.Dana Kamal, (HO Ref.K1119164). [138771]
Beverley Hughes: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter of 24 July 2003 from the hon. Member for Aylesbury on behalf of Mrs. M. Else of Allonby Way, Aylesbury. [139303]
Fiona Mactaggart [holding answer 18 November 2003]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood of 4 September 2003 regarding Weston Clark, date of birth 26 February 1975, ref MEV339443. [139577]
Beverley Hughes: I will write to my right hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
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